As a child, shapes often drifted in and out of Georgia's mind. Curved and straight, round or square, she studied them, and let them disappear.

Growing up on a Wisconsin farm, Georgia O'Keeffe began gathering all sorts of objects -- sticks and stones, flowers and bones. Although she was teased for her interest in unique shapes and sizes, young Georgia declared: "Someday, I'm going to be an artist" -- and that is exactly what she became.

Jen Bryant's story of Georgia O'Keeffe celebrates the famous artist's fascination with natural shapes, "common objects," and her unusual way of looking at the world. Bethanne Andersen's fluid, graceful illustrations capture the beauty of O'Keeffe's work and spirit.

AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS

Children's Book Council, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (2009)Tucson/Pima Public Library, Southwest Books of the Year (2009)

REVIEWS

Booklist"This lyrical appreciation follows the widely known arc of Georgia O'Keeffe's biography and introduces key aspects of her sensibility, including her rugged self-sufficiency and her preoccupation with ‘shapes and spaces.' . . . This bold, beautiful rendition has a certain nonconformist flair that surely would have earned O'Keeffe's stamp of approval."

School Library Journal"Bryant's lyrical text serves as a gentle introduction to a remarkable artist. . . . Andersen is sensitive to O'Keeffe's style and subject matter, foreshadowing some of her famous paintings in scenes throughout the book. . . . A fine first look at O'Keeffe."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"This spare narrative follows Georgia O'Keeffe's creative growth from her childhood to her vision-changing encounter with the New Mexico landscape. The quietly lyrical text focuses especially on O'Keeffe's fascination with shape, from the roundness of doughnut holes to square city windows, from the spiral of seashells to the organic irregularity of animal bones. . . The illustrations manage to convey the drama of O'Keeffe's subjects as well as the vistas that surrounded her. Useful for introducing youngsters to the notion of artistic vision."